Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Environmental Science

Organisation

Cranfield University

School/Department

School of Water, Energy and Environment

Based at

Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Hours of work

37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.

Contract type

Fixed term contract

Fixed Term Period

Until 31 August 2026

Salary

£32,810 per annum - Research Assistant (if close to completing PhD) £35,559 per annum - Research Fellow (if PhD obtained)

We welcome applications to join our project team, contributing to identifying the underlying drivers of increasing methane emissions from Central African and South American tropical peatlands.

About the Role

This Research Fellowship, funded by NERC, will answer fundamental questions about the key drivers of methane dynamics from Central African and South American peatlands. Atmospheric methane concentrations are rising across South America and Central Africa, partly caused by increasing emissions from peatlands. However, the underlying ecological drivers remain unclear. This represents a significant gap in the global methane budget. To address this you will undertake new field-based measurements of methane fluxes across Amazonian peatlands, integrated with environmental and ecological monitoring, working closely with a network of UK and South American collaborators.

About You

You will have completed, or be shortly due to complete a PhD, with experience in measurements of greenhouse gas emissions. You will have a background in or knowledge of peatland ecosystem dynamics, including approaches for measuring ecosystem productivity, greenhouse gas dynamics, with excellent fieldwork and laboratory skills.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about the theme and our research here .

The Environment and Agrifood Theme combines research groups with 50+ years of experience in contributing to societal challenges such as sustainability, enhancing natural capital and future global ecosystem resilience. Find out more here .

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here .

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here .

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                    

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Nicholas Girkin, Lecturer in Plant Soil Systems, Cranfield University: n.t.girkin@cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: hrrecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk . Please quote reference number 4536.

Closing date for receipt of applications:  28 June 2023

Interviews to be held: 14 July 2023